It created a small riot.
And one Instructor didn’t need to wait for the next class to be dood as he was approached by a well-aning wolf in sheep’s clothing.
When Kyle appeared before Instructor Falco, he looked non-threatening. And as one of his top-performing students, he should’ve co off as safe. But for so reason, Falco almost felt strangled the mont he popped up.
"Cadet Nox, is there a problem?" He managed to string these words together.
"A small matter, Sir. It seems like we’ve caused a bit of commotion."
Kyle had his professional smile on as he asked his teacher to sacrifice his neck by being in charge of the distribution of this untouched batch of onion rings.
Obviously, Instructor Falco was ready to say no, as who on Solaris would want to face all these little monsters?
But the eyes of his colleagues promised a world of pain if he rejected, and so he was forced to accept his fate.
"How do you want this done?"
"Maybe by using a randomizer or drawing lots, Sir. It won’t be proper to sell these. But this way they’d see it’s fair since it’s with the help of an esteed instructor."
Falco wasn’t sure why, but he felt shivers as this guy spoke more, but shut up when told he could get one first as a thank you for doing this.
And that was the start of their plan to jumpstart their "contributions."
See, the problem with a contribution is that it must not just stay with them, for if it does, then it’d be labelled as gate-keeping.
So, they need to start influencing the minds of these people early on, without flooding the market with so much product that they risk random people breaking through. Now that was dangerous.
Therefore, they thought of at least making sure that people would rember how they’d long shared the information. And they really would, for the forums would be flooded for days.
anwhile, a certain chanic felt pity for the adjutant who made the noble sacrifice of handing over his onion rings.
Ollie felt conflicted.
He really did.
Kyle had given up his own food. For them, for the guild, and for their cause.
So naturally, Ollie did what any great buddy would do. He picked one golden ring with the utmost reverence and raised it toward Kyle.
"Say ah," he whispered with conviction.
Kyle blinked.
Ollie fed him a bite.
Only, instead of handing the rest over to Kyle, Ollie popped the rest into his own mouth.
Because, well, no one should be wasting food.
Kyle stared.
Ollie blinked innocently. "D-do you want more? Here..."
This went on for a while. Kyle would get a symbolic 10% of the ring while Ollie would joyously devour the other 90%, doing a little dance in his seat every ti he did so.
Hmm. It seems like the food that was shared really tasted better!
But more importantly, this should improve his good karma, right?
It was a spectacle to everyone except for the actual person involved. After all, this wasn’t new for soone who’d been sharing almost everything for a while now.
And the funny thing?
The person in question didn’t say a word as he tried his best not to let his amusent show every ti he got fed a bite from each ring.
When it ca to the lemonade, though, it was a different story.
At first, the adjutant was just quietly drinking his lemonade until he noticed that every ti he took a sip, Ollie’s eyes sparkled with the longing of a desert wanderer spotting an oasis.
So, with a resigned sigh that was bordering on a chortle, Kyle lifted his jug and held it out in front of Ollie, who latched onto it like a tiny animal catching escaping prey. Kyle didn’t say a word, simply tilted the jug so Ollie could drink more comfortably, doing his best not to shake as he held it all in.
Ollie, who was touched, drank like he hadn’t gotten a sip the entire day (not).
A few students nearby stared at them like they were watching the start of a very bizarre and slightly emotional exchange.
So thought it was weird.
So thought it was wholeso.
Others just muttered, "I swear that chanic doesn’t realize he’s halfway into a marriage pact."
Regardless, the forums would have plenty to say about that, too.
But it wouldn’t just be the forums that would be raving about this. For in general, it would be everyone but the selectively blind chanic who wouldn’t be able to distinguish his buddy from his spouse, even at the threat of a knife.
Luca, who had been watching them, found this to be both unusual and heartwarming. He thought they were both such selfless people who loved to share.
Xavier, on the other hand, thought they were both insane.
But he also knew better than to say anything. Because, clearly, Kyle was enjoying this like the crazier person that he was.
And what do you know?
From a few tables away, a few utensils were being bent in both frustration and horror.
"Hey, Lyka, isn’t that?"
"Shut it," she snapped back, narrowing her eyes as the spoon in her hand suffered the wrath of her grip.
She had spent weeks—no, months—strategizing.
Befriending that classmate of hers had been step one of her well-crafted plan to gain proximity to DG.
From there, she imagined it would be a smooth transition towards a possible slot, or at the very least an introduction if she couldn’t get her rcenary license right away.
But she should’ve known better, after her plans went south the mont she realized they weren’t coming to school for classes anymore.
However, she’d been too complacent, assuming that no threats were in their small guild. But never in her wildest imagination did she think she’d be dealing with a competitor instead.
And by the looks of it, this one isn’t just any random opponent. This one was the one to watch out for.
A shaless leech who’s able to get that close. Close enough to be served a drink by those dreamy hands in broad daylight.
ARGH!!!
She’d had a long list back at ho, one she hadn’t needed in a long ti after she’d morized all the people they’d been considering.
All those won on the list.
But why did it never cross her mind to check on the n?
That was a clear oversight on her part, one that she’d have to pay for now.
She squeezed the spoon harder.
It squealed in protest.
"You okay there?" soone nearby asked.
"No," she muttered. "But I will be...Once I get rid of the pests in my way."
She took a deep breath.
Inhale. Exhale.
She could do this.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t dealt with setbacks before. She was noble-born. Trained. ntally fortified by years of etiquette lessons and gallery parties with girls who’d smile while plotting your downfall.
But this? This was personal.
"Just a chanic," she muttered to herself. "A simple, clueless, tragically unaware—"
She choked as Kyle—her Kyle—gently wiped sothing off Ollie’s cheek with his thumb.
And this extra bright chanic just grinned. Probably said sothing like, "Thanks, Kyle. Such a dependable bro!"
Bro.
BRO?
"Soone sedate ," Lyka muttered, eyes wide and glinting. "This is how villains are born."
At that mont, her friend, who had been nervously watching her ltdown, leaned in.
"Maybe it’s just platonic?" she offered. "Like...very intense friendship?"
Lyka slowly turned to her with a blank stare.
Her friend recoiled. "Right, right. Of course. Very married. Noted."
Across the table, soone gasped as Ollie happily shoved a piece of his crispy onion ring into Kyle’s mouth and said, "Eat this, it’s the crunchy one!"
Lyka scread internally.
This was sabotage. A conspiracy. A direct threat to every carefully calculated move she’d made since she was young.
And worst of all?
It looked natural.
No stuttering. No awkward pauses. No artfully staged coincidences. Just...affection. Real affection.
It made her sick.
It made her jealous.
It made her realize that her only option left...
Was espionage.
"I need to know everything about that chanic," she said, checking her terminal with the efficiency of a trained assassin. "Blood type. Favorite tools. Emotional weaknesses."
"...You’re not gonna hurt him, right?"
"Hurt him? No," she said sweetly. "Just...educate him."
Her friend looked worried. Very worried.
But Lyka was already typing.
[Search Query: Ollie Mylor - romantic history - weakness - allergies - is he actually dating Cadet Nox]
Oh, she was going to be thorough.
Because no one—not even the Empire’s most oblivious noble—was going to beat her at her own ga.
She didn’t waste all those years just to lose!
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